1 And after six days [had passed], Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John aside and went up into a high mountain [i.e., an unidentified mountain nearby].
2 There His whole appearance was [miraculously] changed in front of them. His face shone [as brilliantly] as the sun and His clothing became as bright as light.
3 Then suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is so good for us to be here. If you wish, I will build three [small] shelters here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." [Note: Perhaps Peter wanted to provide quarters for the three to stay temporarily, thus prolonging the wonderful experience. In any event, he should not have done what suggested that Moses and Elijah were equal to Jesus].
5 While he was still talking, suddenly a bright cloud engulfed them. Just then, a voice spoke out of the cloud, saying, "This is my dearly loved Son, who is very pleasing to me; listen to Him."
6 And when the disciples heard [the voice], they fell [to the ground] on their faces and became very afraid.
7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up, and do not be afraid."
8 When they looked up, the only one they saw was Jesus.
9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus ordered them, saying, "Do not tell anyone about the vision [you have just seen] until the Son of man has been raised from the dead."
10 His disciples asked Him, "Why then [since you are obviously the Messiah] do the experts in the law of Moses say that Elijah must come first, [i.e., before the Messiah]?"
11 Jesus answered them, "Elijah truly was to come, and restore all things [i.e., to their proper perspective concerning the Messiah].
12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, but they [i.e., the Jewish leaders] did not understand who he was, but [instead] did to him what they wanted to. In the same way, the Son of man will also suffer from what the Jews will do."
13 Then the disciples understood that He was talking to them about John the Immerser.
14 When Jesus and His disciples met the crowd [that was gathered], a man came kneeling down to Jesus and saying to Him,
15 "Lord, take pity on my son, for he has violent seizures and suffers intense pain. He often falls into a fire or into water. [Note: This man was also dominated by an evil spirit. See verse 18].
16 I brought him to [some of] your disciples [for help] but they were not able to heal him."
17 Jesus replied [to the crowd], "You perverse generation of faithless people! How long must I be with you [i.e., before you understand]? How long do I have to be patient with you? Bring the sick boy to me."
18 Then Jesus spoke sternly to [the evil spirit in] the boy, and it left him, and he was immediately healed.
19 Then Jesus' disciples came to Him privately and said, "Why could we not drive out that evil spirit?"
20 He answered them, "[It was] because you had such little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith as [small as] a mustard tree seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to that place over there' and it would move. And nothing will be impossible for you [to do]." {[{[Some manuscripts contain the following verse:
21 But this kind [of spirit] can not be driven out except by praying and fasting.]}]}
22 And while the disciples were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man will be handed over to [evil] men
23 and they will kill Him, but on the third day He will be raised up [from the dead]." And they were very grieved [when they heard this].
24 When Jesus and His disciples came to Capernaum, the collectors of the tax [Note: This was the annual tax used for meeting the expenses of the Temple service and consisted of two days' worth of a farm laborer's pay, or about $140 in 1994] came to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher [also] pay the [Temple] tax?"
25 He replied, "Yes, [He does]." And when Peter entered the house, Jesus spoke to him first, [i.e., without waiting for Peter to tell Him what he had said to the tax collectors], saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect custom duty and taxes? From their children or from strangers?"
26 And when Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus added, "Therefore, children are free [from such taxation].
27 But, so that we do not become a hindrance to these [tax collectors], go to the lake and cast in your hook [and line]. Then take the first fish [you catch], open its mouth and you will find a coin [i.e., worth twice the amount of an individual's Temple tax assessment]. Take it and give it [to the tax collectors] for you and me."